Liang Wu: ???
What was this?
What did she mean by repaying him by helping him pursue Kiana?
Liang Wu was silent for three seconds, then said calmly, “…Sorry, I decline.”
The smile on Cecilia’s face froze slightly: “Eh?
Why?
My Kiana is very cute, you know?
Don’t you think so?”
Well, Kiana was cute, but what did that have to do with the topic at hand?
“I do think she’s cute, but that’s a separate matter from pursuing her.” Liang Wu remained expressionless.
“Besides, as a mother, isn’t it a bit off for you to actively help someone you’ve known for less than two days chase after your daughter?”
Cecilia tilted her head, looking serious: “Hmm…
you do have a point.”
She paused, then showed a gentle smile: “But you know, although a mother shouldn’t casually help someone pursue her daughter, I’ve been observing you all day, and I’ve found that you’re actually quite reliable.”
“You’re good-looking, you can cook, you’re gentle, and most importantly, you like Kiana too, right?
Love at first sight.”
Liang Wu’s expression turned slightly awkward: “Lady Cecilia, where did you get that conclusion?”
Cecilia’s expression became incredibly confident: “I can tell from everywhere!”
“You two have only just met, but I can see that you’re very attentive to that child.”
As she spoke, Cecilia’s expression grew even more excited.
After all, the scenario of Liang Wu and Kiana meeting did remind her of her own story from the past.
Finally, Cecilia concluded: “So, young Liang Wu, you must have fallen for our Kiana at first sight, right?”
“Stop.” Liang Wu raised his hand, cutting off Cecilia’s rambling.
“These are all just normal acts of care, aren’t they?
She just wandered over from another world and isn’t in good condition.
As a fellow native, it’s only natural for me to be attentive, right?”
Cecilia blinked her eyes, which were so similar to Kiana’s.
She did not argue, only smiled softly: “Mm, what you say makes sense.”
“But based on my observations as a mother, I still trust my judgment!”
“…You’ve only observed me for one day.”
“One day is enough,” Cecilia said matter-of-factly.
“A mother’s eye for people is very accurate.”
Liang Wu sighed and decided not to dwell on this matter.
He changed the subject: “You said earlier that your ability to maintain existence is still unstable.
How does it feel now?”
Hearing this, Cecilia looked down at her own hands.
Under the light, those hands had a translucent quality, as if looking through a thin layer of mist.
“Hmm…
it’s better than during the day.
Maybe your Honkai energy is more active at night?
Or maybe it’s because I’m closer to Kiana?
I feel quite stable right now.” Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Cecilia looked up, her gaze falling on the closed door: “That child…
has finished bathing, hasn’t she?”
As if on cue, footsteps sounded outside the door.
Kiana was wearing the new clothes she had bought today, holding a towel and wiping her damp hair.
She walked to the center of the living room, paused as if thinking of something, and glanced toward Liang Wu’s room.
“Liang Wu?
Are you asleep?”
Inside the room, Liang Wu and Cecilia fell silent at the same time.
Cecilia mouthed silently: “Answer her.”
Liang Wu cleared his throat and raised his voice: “Not yet.
What’s up?”
Kiana was silent for a few seconds outside the door: “…Nothing.
I just wanted to say thank you for tonight.
The money for the clothes…
I’ll find a way to pay you back.”
“No rush.
Just get some rest.”
The footsteps outside paused for a moment, then gradually faded away, eventually followed by the soft sound of a sofa cushion compressing.
Inside the room, Cecilia cupped her face in her hands, her expression full of warmth: “Ah…
my Kiana is so thoughtful.”
But Liang Wu was thinking about something else: “Cecilia, aren’t you going to reveal yourself to Kiana?”
After all, judging by Cecilia’s earlier reaction, upon hearing Kiana’s voice, she should have been eager to go out and reunite with her.
At this, Cecilia lowered her gaze and replied, “Now is not the time.”
“Why not?” Liang Wu asked again.
“Because Kiana can’t see me right now.”
“Besides, she has only just learned the truth about herself.
If she found out about me, she would probably just want to run away, wouldn’t she?”
Her tone was light and casual, but it left Liang Wu speechless.
He realized that Cecilia was probably right.
Given Kiana’s current state, if she learned about Cecilia, she might indeed feel ashamed and run away, feeling like she had stolen the name “Kiana.”
After all, Cecilia knew about Bianka, but Kiana did not.
From Kiana’s perspective, her sister had long since died.
And now, even Cecilia, the mother she had admired for so many years, was not her biological mother.
Cecilia spoke again: “So, I want to wait.
Wait until that child truly accepts herself, and then I will appear before her.”
“After all, as a mother, when you see your child who has suffered so much but still tries to live and move forward, all you want to do is make things better for her.”
“Other matters can wait, right?”
“…Alright, you’re right.”
“See?” Cecilia’s smile brightened again.
“So, what are you planning to make for Kiana’s breakfast tomorrow?
I can help you come up with ideas!”
His daily life from now on was probably going to be far more complicated than he had originally anticipated.
Liang Wu was silent for a moment, his gaze resting on Cecilia’s eager face.
Finally, he spoke slowly: “…But Cecilia, you don’t know how to cook, do you?”
Although the game’s story had never said whether Cecilia could cook.
Given her peculiar taste, she did not seem like someone who could cook, did she?
Sure enough, the question hit Cecilia like a bucket of cold water, landing precisely on her head.
Her smile froze, and her eyes drifted for a moment: “Uh…
well…”
“Looks like you really can’t.” Liang Wu answered for her.
“…” Cecilia opened her mouth as if to defend herself but ultimately slumped her shoulders in defeat.
“Fine, I really can’t.”
Liang Wu nodded, his expression showing no surprise: “Then you might as well just be a guardian spirit.
Leave the kitchen to me.”
By now, Liang Wu had fully accepted the reality of the ghost Cecilia.
Though her current state could not grant him bond rewards.
She was still Kiana’s mother and the former strongest Valkyrie of Schicksal.
How could he complain?
But Cecilia puffed out her cheeks in mild protest: “I was just trying to help you with the chores!”
“Cecilia, you’re currently a spirit.
You can’t even hold a spatula.
How exactly do you plan to help?”
Cecilia looked down at her translucent hands and fell silent.
Seeing that, Liang Wu added: “Besides, even if you could hold one, I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting someone who could turn a kitchen into a lively disaster anywhere near my stove.”
Cecilia: “…You’re being so blunt, and I’m technically the owner of your Stigmata.”
“But you’re currently a guest in my Stigmata.” Liang Wu remained unfazed.
“The guest follows the host’s rules, wouldn’t you agree?”
Cecilia stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly burst out laughing: “You sure have a sharp tongue, kid.
But…
I’m starting to like you more and more.”
“…Thanks, but please don’t like me enough to help me pursue your daughter.”
“Oh, aren’t we past that topic already?” Cecilia waved her hand, then let out a yawn.
Even though she did not actually need to breathe in her current state.
“Alright, I should probably head back into the Stigmata and rest.
I just woke up today, and my energy is still a bit low.
I’ll come out again tomorrow morning.
Remember to make something tasty for Kiana.”
With that, before Liang Wu could respond, Cecilia’s figure began to fade.
But just as Liang Wu thought today’s events were finally over, Cecilia seemed to have had a trick up her sleeve all along.
“Just kidding!”